Erdoğan hails 'Century of Türkiye' as republic marks 101 years

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Tuesday that only "a few obstacles" remain before reaching the "bright future we call the Century of Türkiye," as the nation celebrated its Republic's 101st anniversary.

Erdoğan led a delegation of state officials to Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of modern Türkiye, for the Oct. 29th Republic Day celebrations.

The presidential cortege proceeding along the Lion Road included Grand National Assembly Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş, Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, opposition leaders Özgür Özel (CHP), Devlet Bahçeli (MHP), and Müsavat Dervişoğlu (IYI Party), along with cabinet members, heads of higher judicial bodies, Chief of General Staff General Metin Gürak, force commanders, and other dignitaries.

In his message in Anıtkabir's special book, Erdoğan wrote, "At a time when regional borders are again being drawn with blood and tears as they were a century ago, we are taking all measures to protect our homeland and nation's security."

Earlier on Tuesday, in a video message, Erdoğan expressed gratitude to "all our friends and guests who share in the joy of our festival, both here and in different regions around the world."

"Today, we are filled with happiness and rightful pride as we celebrate the first anniversary of the new century of our Republic," he said.

The President paid homage to the Republic's founding figures, especially Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, honoring Türkiye as "the latest and enduring link in a chain of states with a legacy spanning thousands of years."

He remembered the nation's martyrs and veterans, saying, "Every one of our brothers who fell to the ground like entering a rose garden for our independence, especially the martyrs we lost in the attack on...